Environmental Advisor

Shirley Parsons; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

Healthcare

Holiday allowance

Additional benefits

Job summary

Shirley Parsons is seeking an Environmental Advisor for field-based work on major civil engineering projects in the UK. You will operate on-site with engineers and operations teams, translating environmental standards into practical actions while spotting risks before they arise.

You will assess compliance, lead on-site inspections and audits, and influence decisions to safeguard the environment. A relevant environmental degree and professional membership are desirable, with a UK driving licence

Qualifications

• Experience on civil engineering/construction/utilities sites.
• Ability to translate environmental law into practical actions.
• Willingness to inspect, audit and drive corrective actions.
• Strong on-site decision making and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Serve as on-site environmental expert on live civil projects.
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, permits and permits.
• Conduct inspections against ISO 14001 and related standards.
• Lead incident management and drive lessons into practice.
• Engage colleagues, clients and regulators to promote sustainable practices.

Skills

Field experience

Practical problem-solving

Stakeholder engagement

Ability to challenge decisions

Environment focus

Education

Environmental degree

Professional membership (IEMA/CIWEM/IES/CIWM)

Job description

We’re partnered with a leading UK construction and civil engineering business to appoint an Environmental Advisor who wants to get out from behind the desk and make a genuine, visible impact.

This is a hands-on, field-based opportunity where you’ll be right at the heart of live civil engineering projects - working alongside engineers and operational teams, spotting environmental risks before they become problems, challenging decisions when needed and turning environmental standards into practical action.

What you'll be doing:

• Be the Environmental Expert on Site – Get out where the action happens, undertaking environmental assessments and developing practical management plans that work in the real world.
• Drive Compliance & Best Practice – Work closely with operational teams to ensure projects meet environmental legislation, permits and regulatory requirements.
• Spot Risks Before They Escalate – Carry out inspections and audits against ISO 14001 and environmental standards, identifying issues early and driving meaningful corrective action.
• Turn Incidents Into Improvement – Support environmental incident management, making sure lessons are captured, shared and embedded to continually raise standards.
• Influence Positive Change – Monitor environmental performance, translate data into practical actions and confidently engage with colleagues, clients and regulators to champion smarter ways of working.

Who they're looking for:

• Experienced in the Field – You’ll have previous environmental experience within civil engineering, construction or utilities, with a strong understanding of how environmental legislation applies to live operational projects.
• Practical & Solutions-Focused – You enjoy getting stuck into real-world challenges and finding workable solutions rather than simply producing theory or strategy from behind a desk.
• Confident to Challenge – You’ll be comfortable advising operational teams and have the confidence to challenge decisions when environmental standards or risks demand it.
• Passionate About the Environment – Most importantly, you genuinely care about protecting and enhancing the environment and want to see the tangible impact of your work every day.
• Qualified & Ready to Go – A relevant environmental degree and professional membership/qualification such as IEMA, CIWEM, IES or CIWM would be desirable. A full UK driving licence is essential.

Why this opportunity?

This is a chance to join a business that puts people, clients and the environment at the heart of what it does, while playing a key role in delivering environmental excellence across major civil engineering projects.

You’ll have the opportunity to influence, challenge and improve, rather than simply monitor from the sidelines - with competitive salary, pension, healthcare, holiday allowance and a range of additional benefits on offer.